The sushi presentation was excellent and made me excited to dig in! Very unique and delicious assortment of sushi and flavors. I felt that the takeout sushi was more economical than if you were do a sit-down omakase at another location in the bay. Pick-up was quick and smooth.
It would have been great if I had recieved confirmation email within a week, instead of following up with the business. However, I understand that this a small business and it can be hectic for the owner to manage communications, logistics and sushi prep for several customers.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Iris S
Feeling so lucky to have this incredible dining (pop up) experience, complemented by creative presentation and exceptional service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bonnie Wu
Ghost kitchen concept with a super accommodating and friendly owner. Got the salmon trio box, bara Chirashi, and bluefin tuna box. I ordered kind of late but was willing to drive to San Mateo and her and I were able to work out a timing to pick upEverything was amazing and such good value. Ju-I is super generous with her uni and roe. The rice is flavored very well and doesn’t even need additional soy sauce in its cute pipette.The chirashi box didn’t look exactly like the pictures but makes sense when it’s so fresh. We are girls, who don’t like eating too much rice, but we consumed ALL the rice in the chirashi box.Will definitely get the salmon and tuna boxes again!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi
Tamy Tsujimoto
High quality
Food: 5
S Duan
Absolutely love the flavor! It is mild but each piece is has its unique flavor. No need to add soy sauce and the fish itself is sufficient. The rice-fish ratio is well balanced and the raw fish just melts in mouth.I wasn’t able to find a nearby place to sit down but still really enjoyed it in my car! 100% worth the experience.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Helen M
Decent and fresh sushi. The pick up logistic can be interesting.
Food: 4
Leung Nancy
An Unforgettable Culinary Experience at The Back HouseReview:I recently had the pleasure of experiencing The Back House, a remarkable private chef offering premium Japanese cuisine in San Mateo. My culinary journey began with a seamless online booking process to reserve their exquisite sushi for pick up.Opting for the A.starter platter (40pc) with the chef's upgrade, I was left astounded by the delectable creations that awaited me. The inclusion of toro nigiri topped with caviar was a true delicacy, showcasing a perfect harmony of flavors and textures. The salmon belly nigiri melted in my mouth, while the scallop nigiri displayed a sweetness that was nothing short of delightful.However, the highlight of the experience was undoubtedly the uni (sea urchin). It was incredibly fresh and flavorful, providing a taste that transported me to the shores of Japan. The ingenious combination of uni and scallop in a small roll was a delightful surprise that added an extra layer of excitement to the platter.The attention to detail in both presentation and taste was commendable. Each piece was a testament to the chef's skill and dedication to his craft. The Back House truly takes Japanese cuisine to new heights, providing an unforgettable gastronomic adventure that I will cherish.The convenience of online booking, coupled with the exquisite quality of the dishes, makes The Back House a must-visit for anyone seeking an authentic and premium Japanese dining experience. I am already looking forward to my next culinary exploration at this hidden gem in San Mateo.Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Overall, The Back House exceeded my expectations in every way possible. From the toro nigiri to the uni and scallop roll, each bite was a symphony of flavors that left me craving for more. This is a dining experience that I wholeheartedly recommend to any connoisseur of fine Japanese cuisine.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
helen Momo
Decent and fresh sushi. The pick up logistic can be interesting.
Food: 4
Martin Chou
Nice sushi (though a little expensive)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Leslie G
Is this place really a business?! You drive to get here and they have no pastries only coffee and bread? WHAT?!
The most delicious bread and pastries around here. The country loaf is a fab and the almond croissants is the best I have ever had.
SanFranciscoTRVLR
AMAZING bread- finally a local place that rivals those in SF. And what a stylish place- really surprised to see such a cool place in San Mateo!
patrickm-tokyo
I had read some very nice reviews during a recent visit to the SF bay area and decided to head down to this very positively reviewed bakery in San Mateo. I arrived with a line of perhaps 20 people shortly after opening on a weekend. I bought a fresh baked round loaf of bread that was truly excellent! I got the asiago black pepper loaf and it was filled with great chunks of asiago cheese. It was a large loaf and it lasted me a full week. I understood after my first taste of this asiago black pepper loaf why the reviews were so very positive! I also got a few of the other baked goods and everything was delicious! I tried to go back a second time before leaving town, but it was late in the day and the shelves were virtually empty.
Joseph S
8.00 am on a Saturday morning, the line is already three blocks long. People are extremely patient with mask on and slight mist in the air. The infamous pistachio raspberry croissant is about $5 each and they cannot make it fast enough. Other flavors are between 3:50 to $5 each.
ULeadWillFollow
We pre-ordered a whole bunch of pastries. We wanted our friends in Calistoga to try them. Firstly, pre-ordering is supposed to only ensure that you get what you want, especially if it’s at the amount that might become problematic with supplies running out all the time. It does not, however, prevent you from having to line up and slowly snail-pace your way to the door. They have no separate way of handing over pre-paid pre-orders, a real bummer, especially on a windy morning. What makes it worse is that you can’t even avoid the lines by coming early. They don’t serve preorders until after 9:00 a.m. So, when I finally made it to the window, I get told that their ovens were down and my order for 8 kouign amann would take another hour of waiting. We had already waited for 9:00 a.m. instead of heading out at 7:00. Another hour? This was very disappointing. The ever gracious and patient server suggested other products that were available. Or refund. Or both. So I peeked into the window and pointed to whatever was coming out. The rest was revelation heaven! Had this not happened, we would have merrily contended with our usual faves. But because of the substitutions, we have new favorites: the ham and cheese is TO DIE FOR! We also discovered these square apple pastry and the pistachio raspberry croissant (if you’re ever tired of the almond croissant, try this! I had to slow down to savor). Walking out of there I thought about never coming back. Now, I wonder...our friends are all swooning too.
The sushi presentation was excellent and made me excited to dig in! Very unique and delicious assortment of sushi and flavors. I felt that the takeout sushi was more economical than if you were do a sit-down omakase at another location in the bay. Pick-up was quick and smooth.
It would have been great if I had recieved confirmation email within a week, instead of following up with the business. However, I understand that this a small business and it can be hectic for the owner to manage communications, logistics and sushi prep for several customers.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Feeling so lucky to have this incredible dining (pop up) experience, complemented by creative presentation and exceptional service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ghost kitchen concept with a super accommodating and friendly owner. Got the salmon trio box, bara Chirashi, and bluefin tuna box. I ordered kind of late but was willing to drive to San Mateo and her and I were able to work out a timing to pick upEverything was amazing and such good value. Ju-I is super generous with her uni and roe. The rice is flavored very well and doesn’t even need additional soy sauce in its cute pipette.The chirashi box didn’t look exactly like the pictures but makes sense when it’s so fresh. We are girls, who don’t like eating too much rice, but we consumed ALL the rice in the chirashi box.Will definitely get the salmon and tuna boxes again!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi
High quality
Food: 5
Absolutely love the flavor! It is mild but each piece is has its unique flavor. No need to add soy sauce and the fish itself is sufficient. The rice-fish ratio is well balanced and the raw fish just melts in mouth.I wasn’t able to find a nearby place to sit down but still really enjoyed it in my car! 100% worth the experience.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Decent and fresh sushi. The pick up logistic can be interesting.
Food: 4
An Unforgettable Culinary Experience at The Back HouseReview:I recently had the pleasure of experiencing The Back House, a remarkable private chef offering premium Japanese cuisine in San Mateo. My culinary journey began with a seamless online booking process to reserve their exquisite sushi for pick up.Opting for the A.starter platter (40pc) with the chef's upgrade, I was left astounded by the delectable creations that awaited me. The inclusion of toro nigiri topped with caviar was a true delicacy, showcasing a perfect harmony of flavors and textures. The salmon belly nigiri melted in my mouth, while the scallop nigiri displayed a sweetness that was nothing short of delightful.However, the highlight of the experience was undoubtedly the uni (sea urchin). It was incredibly fresh and flavorful, providing a taste that transported me to the shores of Japan. The ingenious combination of uni and scallop in a small roll was a delightful surprise that added an extra layer of excitement to the platter.The attention to detail in both presentation and taste was commendable. Each piece was a testament to the chef's skill and dedication to his craft. The Back House truly takes Japanese cuisine to new heights, providing an unforgettable gastronomic adventure that I will cherish.The convenience of online booking, coupled with the exquisite quality of the dishes, makes The Back House a must-visit for anyone seeking an authentic and premium Japanese dining experience. I am already looking forward to my next culinary exploration at this hidden gem in San Mateo.Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Overall, The Back House exceeded my expectations in every way possible. From the toro nigiri to the uni and scallop roll, each bite was a symphony of flavors that left me craving for more. This is a dining experience that I wholeheartedly recommend to any connoisseur of fine Japanese cuisine.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Decent and fresh sushi. The pick up logistic can be interesting.
Food: 4
Nice sushi (though a little expensive)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Is this place really a business?! You drive to get here and they have no pastries only coffee and bread? WHAT?!
Restaurantji Recommends
The most delicious bread and pastries around here. The country loaf is a fab and the almond croissants is the best I have ever had.
AMAZING bread- finally a local place that rivals those in SF. And what a stylish place- really surprised to see such a cool place in San Mateo!
I had read some very nice reviews during a recent visit to the SF bay area and decided to head down to this very positively reviewed bakery in San Mateo. I arrived with a line of perhaps 20 people shortly after opening on a weekend. I bought a fresh baked round loaf of bread that was truly excellent! I got the asiago black pepper loaf and it was filled with great chunks of asiago cheese. It was a large loaf and it lasted me a full week. I understood after my first taste of this asiago black pepper loaf why the reviews were so very positive! I also got a few of the other baked goods and everything was delicious! I tried to go back a second time before leaving town, but it was late in the day and the shelves were virtually empty.
8.00 am on a Saturday morning, the line is already three blocks long. People are extremely patient with mask on and slight mist in the air. The infamous pistachio raspberry croissant is about $5 each and they cannot make it fast enough. Other flavors are between 3:50 to $5 each.
We pre-ordered a whole bunch of pastries. We wanted our friends in Calistoga to try them. Firstly, pre-ordering is supposed to only ensure that you get what you want, especially if it’s at the amount that might become problematic with supplies running out all the time. It does not, however, prevent you from having to line up and slowly snail-pace your way to the door. They have no separate way of handing over pre-paid pre-orders, a real bummer, especially on a windy morning. What makes it worse is that you can’t even avoid the lines by coming early. They don’t serve preorders until after 9:00 a.m. So, when I finally made it to the window, I get told that their ovens were down and my order for 8 kouign amann would take another hour of waiting. We had already waited for 9:00 a.m. instead of heading out at 7:00. Another hour? This was very disappointing. The ever gracious and patient server suggested other products that were available. Or refund. Or both. So I peeked into the window and pointed to whatever was coming out. The rest was revelation heaven! Had this not happened, we would have merrily contended with our usual faves. But because of the substitutions, we have new favorites: the ham and cheese is TO DIE FOR! We also discovered these square apple pastry and the pistachio raspberry croissant (if you’re ever tired of the almond croissant, try this! I had to slow down to savor). Walking out of there I thought about never coming back. Now, I wonder...our friends are all swooning too.
Loading...